Oops Alpha, Wrong Luna
Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Aria’s POV.

Seraphina’s words froze me, my heart racing so fast it felt like it would burst. "You know, I still can’t believe the wrong Luna who should be beheaded by now is still ruling the Shadow Claw pack beside Alpha Kael," she said, her voice sharp, her green eyes glinting with malice.

I turned slowly, my breath catching, my eyes wide as I faced her, my hands trembling at my sides.

I was pretending to be Celeste, my twin sister, the Luna of the Shadow Claw pack, hiding my real name, Aria, and her words were a blade to my throat.

My wolf, Kyra, whined, her fear loud in my chest, urging me to run, but I couldn’t move, my legs heavy, my mind reeling.

Did she know? Had she heard Celeste’s threat in the hall, "You know who isn’t supposed to be Luna?"

The memory of Seraphina’s blank stare, her silent entrance, burned in my mind, and now her smirk told me everything.

I opened my mouth, my voice shaky, desperate. "You’re wrong," I said, my words weak, my hands clenching the blue dress I wore, its fabric tight against my skin.

"I’m Celeste, the Luna. You don’t know what you’re talking about." My heart pounded, my chest tight, but Seraphina’s laugh was cold, her eyes narrowing, her blonde hair catching the dim light of the room.

"Don’t lie to me, Aria," she said, her voice low, sharp, her step closer, her red dress swishing.

"I’ve been watching you for weeks. The way you move, the way you talk, it’s not Celeste. I had my suspicions, but in the hall today, when your sister snapped, I heard her. ’The wrong Luna.’ It’s you." Her words were like a punch, my breath gone, my eyes burning with tears I wouldn’t let fall.

She knew. She’d heard Celeste’s threat, and now my secret was in her hands, my life hanging right on the edge.

Kyra growled, her panic surging, but I forced myself to stand tall, my jaw tight.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice tough, my eyes locked on hers, my hands shaking but steady.

I couldn’t let her see my fear, couldn’t let her win. My chest ached, the weight of her knowledge crushing me, but I had to fight back, had to protect myself.

Seraphina stepped closer, her smirk growing, her eyes dark with intent. "Leave the Alpha," she said, her voice cold, firm.

"Kael’s mine." Her words stung, jealousy and rage mixing with my fear, my heart skipping.

Kael was my mate, my Alpha, even if he’d been cold, even if his grip had marked my wrists. I couldn’t give him up, couldn’t let her take him.

"No," I said, my voice sharp, my hands clenching tighter, my eyes fierce.

"He’s my mate, not yours." Kyra growled louder, her strength pushing me, her loyalty to Kael burning hot.

I wouldn’t let Seraphina, his foster sister, steal him, no matter what she knew.

Her smile faded, her eyes glinting, her voice low, dangerous. "Then I’ll tell the pack," she said, leaning in, her breath warm.

"I’ll tell everyone you’re Aria, not Celeste. The wrong Luna. You know what they do to liars, to imposters? Beheading’s too kind." Her threat hit like a punch, my heart stopping, my breath short, my legs shaky.

The pack would turn on me, Kael would hate me, and I’d lose everything, my place, my life. My tears burned, my chest tight, Kyra whimpering, her fear overwhelming.

I took a shaky breath, my voice small, desperate. "I can’t just leave him," I said, my eyes pleading.

"If I walk away now, it’ll look suspicious. Everyone will ask questions. I need time, to do it slowly." My words were a lie, a stall, my mind racing for a way out.

I couldn’t leave Kael, couldn’t lose him, but I had to keep Seraphina quiet, had to buy time.

She paused, her eyes narrowing, her head tilting as she studied me. "Fine," she said, her voice cold, her smirk returning.

"But tonight, at the charity event, ignore him. Don’t talk to him, don’t touch him. I want a dance with him, and you’ll let me. You obey me, or I talk." Her words were sharp, her eyes glinting with satisfaction, and my heart sank, my hands trembling.

I hated her, hated her control, but I had no choice. My secret was a chain around my neck, and she held the key.

I nodded, my voice gone, my eyes dropping to the floor, my chest aching with defeat. "Okay," I whispered, my hands clenching the dress, my heart heavy.

Kyra whined, her anger fading to sadness, her loyalty torn. I had to play along, had to keep my secret safe, even if it meant pushing Kael away.

The door creaked open, the sound loud, and Kael walked in, his black shirt tight, his onyx eyes sharp but tired, his bandage hidden under his dress.

My heart jumped, relief and fear mixing, my breath catching. Seraphina turned, her sneer quick, her eyes glinting as she brushed past him, her red dress swishing, the door shutting behind her.

I wanted to run to Kael, to tell him everything, Celeste’s words, Seraphina’s blackmail, my secret, but fear stopped me, my throat tight.

If he knew I was Aria, not Celeste, he might reject me, might let the pack punish me. My hands shook, my eyes burning, my heart racing.

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his voice low. "Why was Seraphina here?" he asked, his step closer, his face hard but worried.

His presence was warm, strong, but his coldness from that morning lingered in my mind, his sharp words echoing.

I opened my mouth, my voice catching, wanting to tell him the truth, to confess I was Aria, to beg for his protection.

But Seraphina’s words reverberated, her words, I’ll tell everyone, choking me. I couldn’t risk it, couldn’t lose him, not now.

"She... just wanted to talk about the event," I lied, my voice small, shaky, my eyes dropping to the floor.

My heart ached, the lie bitter on my tongue, my hands clenching the dress. Kyra whined, her sadness heavy, hating the deception.

Kael’s eyes searched mine, his jaw tight, like he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push. He nodded, his voice gruff. "Let’s go. The event’s starting."

I followed him, my steps slow, my heart heavy, the blue dress swishing around me.

The packhouse halls were busy, maids carrying trays, their voices low, the air filled with the smell of flowers and food.

My mind spun, Seraphina’s warnings, Celeste’s words, Kael’s coldness before now, all crashing together.

I had to ignore him tonight, had to let Seraphina dance with him, had to keep my secret safe.

My chest tightened, my tears close, my hands trembling as we headed for the hall, the doors boldly ahead, the noise of the event growing louder.